How to Reface Your Old Kitchen Cabinets
Find out what’s involved in updating your cabinets by refinishing or replacing doors and drawers
Steven Randel
9 January 2014
Houzz Contributor
It may not always be practical or affordable to rebuild the cabinets in a kitchen or bathroom. Or you may like your cabinets, but they just need new doors, or just a new finish. Refacing them might be the best solution. But what does refacing involve? As with most construction projects, the answer depends on the details.
Project: Refacing or Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets
Why reface: In the most basic process, you will be leaving the cabinet intact and in its same place and refinishing or replacing the doors. This avoids the expense and effort of taking out and replacing the entire cabinet. So the advantages are less expense, less material going to the landfill and a less-complicated construction process.
Is this a good project for you? Determine if your cabinets can take the restoration process well enough to be revitalized for at least another 10 years of life. If the cabinet body, also called the carcass, is in bad structural shape, is water damaged or will not take to refinishing well enough, you might have to replace the cabinets in a full kitchen remodel.
If your cabinets have sturdy frames, refacing can be a good solution. The degree to which you refurbish the cabinets is up to you.
Options for refacing kitchen cabinets. Combinations and variations of each of these options defines refacing cabinets. Each one can have a dramatic effect on the look of your kitchen:
Best time to reface or refinish cabinets: This is a project for the winter, after the holidays and before Easter, or in the fall before Halloween, when weather is cooler.
How much does it cost to reface kitchen cabinets? A simple paint job might cost a few hundred dollars. For a more extensive refacing job, $5,000 to $15,000 is likely. If the project involves replacing the countertop and appliances, you can spend considerably more.
Who to hire: If you are simply repainting your cabinets, this might be a DIY project. Even replacing knobs and pulls is simple and can be done without too much trouble. Consider using a handyperson if you don’t have time to do the work yourself. A handyperson might also be able to do more demanding work, such as replacing the doors and drawer fronts. If your remodel is more extensive, architects, kitchen designers and interior decorators can all be called upon to work on the project with you and provide valuable design direction.
Do you need a permit to reface kitchen cabinets? As long as you are not changing any electrical or plumbing, you probably can do this project without a permit. Check with a design professional or ask the local building department and describe your intentions in detail to find out for certain.
Why reface: In the most basic process, you will be leaving the cabinet intact and in its same place and refinishing or replacing the doors. This avoids the expense and effort of taking out and replacing the entire cabinet. So the advantages are less expense, less material going to the landfill and a less-complicated construction process.
Is this a good project for you? Determine if your cabinets can take the restoration process well enough to be revitalized for at least another 10 years of life. If the cabinet body, also called the carcass, is in bad structural shape, is water damaged or will not take to refinishing well enough, you might have to replace the cabinets in a full kitchen remodel.
If your cabinets have sturdy frames, refacing can be a good solution. The degree to which you refurbish the cabinets is up to you.
Options for refacing kitchen cabinets. Combinations and variations of each of these options defines refacing cabinets. Each one can have a dramatic effect on the look of your kitchen:
- Painting or restaining your cabinet doors
- Replacing the doors and drawer fronts with a completely different door style or wood species
- Replacing the hardware, pulls and knobs
- Repairing damaged wood
Best time to reface or refinish cabinets: This is a project for the winter, after the holidays and before Easter, or in the fall before Halloween, when weather is cooler.
How much does it cost to reface kitchen cabinets? A simple paint job might cost a few hundred dollars. For a more extensive refacing job, $5,000 to $15,000 is likely. If the project involves replacing the countertop and appliances, you can spend considerably more.
Who to hire: If you are simply repainting your cabinets, this might be a DIY project. Even replacing knobs and pulls is simple and can be done without too much trouble. Consider using a handyperson if you don’t have time to do the work yourself. A handyperson might also be able to do more demanding work, such as replacing the doors and drawer fronts. If your remodel is more extensive, architects, kitchen designers and interior decorators can all be called upon to work on the project with you and provide valuable design direction.
Do you need a permit to reface kitchen cabinets? As long as you are not changing any electrical or plumbing, you probably can do this project without a permit. Check with a design professional or ask the local building department and describe your intentions in detail to find out for certain.
Style Ideas for Refaced Kitchen Cabinets
Black-and-white themes never go out of style and can always look fresh and crisp. Shiny black countertops and a bright white cabinet finish dignify this comfortable kitchen design with refacing. Nothing here is too complicated or fussy. The two pairs of glass panel doors on either side of the microwave oven delicately relieve the long bank of upper cabinets, preventing monotony.
Black-and-white themes never go out of style and can always look fresh and crisp. Shiny black countertops and a bright white cabinet finish dignify this comfortable kitchen design with refacing. Nothing here is too complicated or fussy. The two pairs of glass panel doors on either side of the microwave oven delicately relieve the long bank of upper cabinets, preventing monotony.
A soft contemporary theme has been achieved in this refaced kitchen. Notice that the cabinet door is a simple stile and rail with a flat-panel inset, which is called a Shaker style. This is one of the least expensive door styles available, and it can be used in both modern and traditional interiors effectively. Stainless steel hardware complements the coordinating appliances. Again, glass upper cabinet doors provide interest.
Many homes have a traditional style, and it seems that one can never go wrong when going with this classic design theme. Click here to see the stark contrast between this refaced kitchen and the original. Surprised that it used to be contemporary? While this kitchen probably pushes the refacing envelope, you can see how dramatic a transformation can be without the entire room’s being rebuilt.
Let’s take a closer look at how the previous examples have been transformed by first examining simpler conversions. This kitchen has everything many people want in their kitchens, including granite countertops and a nice tile backsplash. The very basic layout suits the size of the room. But the gold-brown cabinet finish and heavy wood grain make it appear like unfinished or raw wood.
After: By changing to maple doors and drawer fronts, facing the frames with maple veneer and applying a darker stain, the designer made the space appear far more handsome. The maple has a much softer and mellower grain, and the darker color gives the room a richer feeling.
Before Photo
Here we have a very spacious and nicely appointed kitchen with nice granite countertops and tile backsplashes. But again, the gold-brown and heavily grained oak cabinets do not make the room feel special. Also, the door style looks dated.
After: Notice that most elements from the original kitchen are still here. The difference is that all the doors and drawer fronts have been changed to maple with a furniture-quality finish. Also, finish panels added to the side of the refrigerator cabinet and to the base of the island dress up these highly visible elements, making this kitchen even nicer.
Once again heavily grained stained oak cabinets cheapen the atmosphere in this roomy kitchen. Otherwise, it has everything you would want, including a large window over the sink that lets in lots of natural light, granite countertops and up-to-date appliances.
After: This time the cabinets, doors and all, stayed in place but got completely painted over. Notice also that the pulls and knobs were replaced as well. Now the darker granite contrasts the light cabinets in a sophisticated way. The room feels cheery and clean compared to before.
Looking up close at the newly painted cabinets, you can see that the finish has been given a slightly distressed edge. This effect adds depth and character. These are not necessarily expensive cabinets to start, but this type of finish can really add flavor.
Before: In some cases you may be faced with damaged surfaces. The great thing about wood is that it often can take a beating and still be revived for more life. As long as the wood has not warped from water damage or other problems, don’t give up on it.
After: Here is the repaired cabinet with the scratches sanded out and a new coat of stain and varnish added. You will most likely want to find someone who does this type of work on a regular basis unless you are skilled at refinishing wood surfaces.
What is it about heavy oak grain that it seems to show up so frequently? This bath cabinet is in excellent shape, with plenty of drawers and storage. It would be a shame to toss it out just because it is a little homely.
After: A distressed off-white lacquer finish transformed that dowdy cabinet into a substantial statement. Notice that the original hardware, granite, mirror, sinks and plumbing fixtures remain. By adding beadboard to the end face and wrapping the base with a mold, the finisher created a whole new statement with minimal effort.
This modern and slick kitchen has beautiful stone countertops and a marvelous mosaic tile backsplash. Even the appliances are up-to-date. But the color of the wood finish and the cabinet door style are not congruent with the space’s modern elements and colors.
After: Transformed with black stain and new Shaker-style doors, the cabinets now make a confident modernist statement. Note that the hardware has also been replaced. The original had decent brushed metal pulls, but the remodeled version has more substantial hardware that is easier to see and nicer to touch.
Project Questionnaire
This checklist can help you break down what you need for your kitchen and help you develop a shopping list and budget:
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Find cabinet refinishers
Project Questionnaire
This checklist can help you break down what you need for your kitchen and help you develop a shopping list and budget:
- Replace cabinet hardware (knobs and pulls): • Yes • No
- Replace cabinet doors and drawer fronts: • Yes • No
- Replace wood species or finishes: Yes • No (coordinate with door style changes)
- Paint existing: Yes • No
- Stain existing: Yes • No
- Repair existing: Yes • No
- Add details such as glass doors: Yes • No
- Replace hinges: Yes • No
- Replace appliances: Yes • No
- Replace countertops: Yes • No
- Replace backsplash: Yes • No
- Replace lighting: Yes • No
- Add lighting: Yes • No
- Add finish panels: Yes • No
- DIY: Yes • No
- Hire professional: Yes • No
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Find cabinet refinishers
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Kitchen Guides
10 Key Kitchen Dimensions You Need to Know
Here are key kitchen dimensions that will help you design like a pro
Full Story
More Room Guides
35 Serene Puja Room Designs
Take a leaf out of these elegantly designed, beautiful prayer rooms on Houzz
Full Story
Decorating Guides
What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Interior Designer?
From furnishing working drawings to beautifying the home, find out how an interior designer plays multifunctional roles
Full Story
More Room Guides
Turn One Room Into Two With These Genius Ideas
Carve out an extra room within your home with these fab room-splitting tips and tricks
Full Story
Bedroom Guides
What Are the Ideal Wardrobe Measurements?
Here are dimensions for different types of wardrobe designs that ensure maximum functionality and storage
Full Story
Architecture
These Indian Homes Know How To Combat Harsh Climate
See how these homes by SPASM, Kumar Moorthy & Associates and JPLUSDARCHITECTS mitigate the ramifications of harsh climate ahead of time
Full Story
Architecture
How to Find an Architect That's Right for You
Make the construction and renovation of your home a pleasant and memorable journey by selecting the right architect
Full Story
Bathroom Guides
Step-by-Step: A Guide to Renovating Your Bathroom
Planning to renovate your bathroom? Learn about the different stages involved in the remodelling process
Full Story
Living Rooms
30 Best Sofa Designs
This guide gives a rundown of sofa types that will leave you spoilt for choices
Full Story
Small Spaces
7 Stylish Ways to Dry Your Laundry In a Small Apartment
Has your drying rack become a perpetual eyesore in your home? These dapper laundry drying solutions have you covered
Full Story
The entire cabinet is a wood grain formica. The fronts, sides and both sides of the doors. I dont know is there is a special paint to use on them?
Richard, your paint doesn't matter nearly as much as do your prep and primer. Your paint will be adhering to your primer, and your primer to the formica. While it's not going to be an incredibly durable result., You can at times remove the formica or laminate veneer and have the wood underneath. That can be way more involved than some people want to deal with. You can do a decent job by thoroughly degreasing and cleaning the cabinets, then really sanding them to give them tooth, then using a high-bonding primer made for plastics/laminates. While not ideal for painting, you can do it.
Could you provide more detailed explanations and examples of each option for refacing kitchen cabinets mentioned in the section "Options for refacing kitchen cabinets"? I'm particularly interested in understanding the process involved, potential costs, and the aesthetic impact each option can have on the overall appearance of the kitchen.